Your commute sounds a lot like mine. I to have 16.8 to 18 mile commute with one Wall on the Tampa Bay bridge. The Wall is 1/4 mile asent with a 190 foot clime, this is way I call it the wall. I have a 1989 Peogeut PB-14 with a 40/52 and a 13/15/17/19/21/23/28. I have locked out the front derailer so I can not use the 40 chainring. My bike has a rear trunk and rack and a handlebar bag as well. It's tips the scale at 30 + pounds full loaded for the ride to work.

The Fuji Del Ray is more of a Hybrid bike. It is not made for speed. If you commute on this bike make sure you get the street tires for it. It well speed up the bike. The Airfree tires will not grip in the rain as well as tubed tires. So you have to watch it on stops in the rain and corners. And they do not feel as good as tubed tires or as fast. With street tires (tubed) the best speed you could get from this bike will be around 18 mph on the flats with a tail wind. If you put drop bars on it then you may get a little better speed but not much. I would be looking for a good used road bike for the commute that has drop bars and a 38 or 40/52 chainring with at least 6 or 7 cassette. This well make the ride faster and fell better in a headwind or on the hill. A Hybrid bike is good for short commutes. But it will work for longer commute if you don't mind the longer time on the commute. SO if you normally only ride at 14 or 15 mph then stay with the Hybrid. You will be able to find a 40/52 chainring for it. Hope this helps.

Hi y'all! I can finally resume my Monday commutes, since the class I teach is OVER! Yippee!

I had a good commute this morning. I took a slightly different route through DC down a street that is all one way, 4 lanes, one of which is dedicated to bikes and busses. Of course, drivers pay no attention to that lane restriction, and there's no enforcement whatsoever.

I took that lane, and endured honks and yells and a few flipped birds. Bring it on, idiots! It's MY LANE! heh heh.

Hi Cigtech,
The Del Ray I have came from a pawn shop as a road bike about 14 years ago. Paid 25.00 for it. It had Sugino drop tube friction shifters w/Sun Tour deraillers front and rear. It was in good shape and appeared to be stock. 12 speed w/drop bars. The brake levers were the pre-aero type and the hb tape was cloth. Over the years as I've gained a little knowledge all the components have been upgraded. Went through one of those digital speed indicators set up once on my present commute and was clocked @ 22mph on flat ground w/no tailwind. Don't know how accurate those things are, however.

Found a C-dale road bike leaning against a dumpster a few years ago. The frame was cracked, the chain was rusted and it had, obviously been out in the rain for a few seasons. Was able to salvage everything except the frame itself as it was aluminum and beyond repair. Gave the fork to a friend and used the rest of the components, including the handlebars and stem to upgrade the Fuji. Got a Shimano Sora 7 sp brake/shifter from an lbs which was just gathering dust. Wanted to go single chainwheel in the front and at the suggestion of the lbs mechanic used a bmx spindle which pulled the chainwheel close to the bb. Also, he gave me a bmx single cable guide for the der cable.

Did the ride yesterday and was able to complete it in 2:15 w/one short rest. Did about 2/3 of 'the wall' before going to 'switchbacks' as it's 90 here in mid-Tennessee and I just 'didn't feel like it'.

Thanks again for your suggestion(s). I'll continue to monitor everyday and post once in a while.

You go Velogirl! Same experience for me this morning. I had to drop the wife's car off at the shop this morning so I rode a completly different route in. I usually don't fight traffic at all, but today I had to. In my case this morning it was a bike lane with painted lines on the far right. For some reason lots of people were suprised to see an actual bike there as they used it for turning, passing on the right, rolling through stop signs and the like. Only had to put my foot on one bumper as it started to push me off the road, but it was a small car so I gave it a bit of a bounce along with my yell and (after his brief heart attack) he got out of my way.

A little warm this afternoon, even with a short ride. I guess it is supposed to get worst here this week, but I only get to ride one more day and then I am off on travel for the next couple of weeks. If I am off the net, the cheers folks.

I didn't ride today, but it's not because of the heat alone. I fully intend to ride tomorrow. It's just that today I had a dentist appointment first thing this morning, and the heat combined with the novacain effects is too much for me. You gotta be 100% to ride in this heat, even slowly.

So now I have a big ole' numb face, drooling a bit probably (can't really tell). It'll all be better by quittin' time, but I'd just assume not combine 100F with nerve-altering drugs.

Xroader -- I don't know if you ride a steel frame, but some parts of your anatomy sure are made of steel. A foot on the bumper would catch most people's attention.

Velo -- probably the right call on skipping the ride when numbed. You didn't miss much since it was already close and humid by the morning ride. Tonight ought to be a real joy. But like winter commuting only the strong prevail!

Totally uneventful ride in and traffic was a little lighter than usual -- probably that forecast of 100 degrees by afternoon. I've got 2 waterbottles in the freezer at work for the ride home. That plus a mor eleisurely pace on the ride and I should be good to go. We only have to push through it for the next 2-3 days and then it will drop back down to 90 -- quite a cold front. Ride carefully everybody.

Man I had a hot ride home in a 103 temp with 57% humidity. Went by the LBS but he was closed... made my ride 19.86 miles. I have to get a new tire for the back wheel. I made the trip with a ARTS of 15.48 mph.

Velo/Maryland. Well not exactly moving, more like crawling, maybe 5 mph in traffic. And I was on my big, sturdy hybrid. (Unlike last Friday on my light roadie, when I caught a pedal on the pavement on a turn an ended up with a nice bit of road rash)

I rode both ways today, fine this morning, but I had to carry extra crap home tody for my trip, so my bags were over 40 lbs. That and the heat/humidy really slowed me down. (Texas is still hotter though I'm heading there tomorrow so I'll give you direct compasison when I get back.

OK, I've had enough fun riding in high heat and humidity!!! Its really bad when riding creates only enough breeze to move you from "unbearable" to "miserable".

Last night's ride was indeed hot and humid, but due to traffic before I got on the MUP I actually rode faster than usual with no real problems. This morning was hotter and more humid than yesterday morning so I was somewhat surprised at the number of riders who were out and about. Something stung/bit me through a helmet vent on this morning's ride. Fortunately, I didn't kill myself trying to shake it loose. Now I've got a small knot on my head and it hurts like the dickens (you can fill in more colorful language at your discretion). Thankfully it was not a bee since I am allergic.

Hopefully tonight's ride home will be less eventful. Ride safe everybody.

This morning's commute was indeed humid, but I still made good time even though I thought I was taking it easy. I guess once the weather cools, I'll have to up my usual effort. I went through two waterbottles for good measure.

I took the same route as Monday, and took the lane again, and no one challenged me. They're quick little learners, those cagers!

This evening's commute will be interesting. I fully expect to take at least 15 minutes longer than usual, as I don't want to push myself at all in this swamp. Plus, it's a Code Red day, and the air quality is bad. I'll try to keep breathing it to a minimum!

Yesterday's ride home was hot, slow, and drenching. I drank 2 water bottles, coasted where I could, took longer than usual by seven minutes, and thought I did fine. Then I got home, cooled off, and collapsed. Dragged myself to bed at 9:30. I was really spacey (well, more than usual), and I think I just wore myself out in yesterday's conditions. I didn't have heat exhaustion or anything--no chills or anything, just plain tuckered out.

So my new rule is 100F/110 heat index means don't ride. I just keep forgetting that I'm not 20 anymore (looks can be deceiving, you know!)

Velo -- I agree riding these past few days really takes it out of you. I thought it was all the work we are doing remodelling our offices, but I think it really is the result of riding in the heat.

Last night's ride and this morning's went fine, but I feel no urge to push my commute. I just ride along at comfortable pace and drink water like its coming to an end. The heat does thin out traffic on the MUP! The weather guys promise a cooler day tomorrow and over the weekend, so maybe things will get better.

I've had some great sails in the last couple of weeks. The hot weather that devils the cyclist is heaven to the sailor. Swimming off the boat, grilling at anchorage, olunging on a hammock strung in the rigging...

Well, anyways, I had to go into work yesterday to deal with a small crisis. It is amazing how fast you lose your fitness levels. Huffing and puffing along 2 mph slower than what was a comfortable pace a month ago. To compensate a bit, my upper body is stronger from the sailing. The rowing, using the anchors and sail trimming are all good workouts for arms, back and chest.

Does anyone else here do a different sport that empahsizes different parts of your body?

Yes, get well soon, Cig! I helped someone with a mechanical difficulty on the trail tonight, makes one feel useful.

I surpassed 1500 miles commuting today for the year. Since my goal was 1000 (remember, I was gonna spend the rest of the year drinking beer on the sofa?), I'm pretty pleased. My revised goal is 2000, but I might have to revise again, seeing as I made the last 500 since June without going on many long rides, just commuting.

Mars, I thought you sailed off the end of the Earth. Glad to hear your bake on the Bike. And Yes I Kayak for the upper part of the body.

Thanks Velogirl and Maryland. Even witht the head cold I still made it to wor with a 62 min RT (17.04 miles) and Home with a 64 min RT (17.14 miles). When I was ridding the head clears right up. But I have to stop some time and it comes back in full force.

Velogirl way to go with the mechanical assist and the mileage. I have broke the 5000 mile mark today with 5007.9 miles total this year.

Back from traveling, but out again on Monday for the week, gonna be a low milage month.

Velo - Congrats on hitting your 1500. I just cleared 1300 for the year myself. At the kind of mieage you are doing I'm not suprised that you still look 20 (but it does take a little longer to recover from over exertion and injury now doesn't it.)